Please note that the summaries of news items posted on this page
do not necessarily represent the official positions of CSU-ERFA
or its affiliates. Links contained within the summaries may
take you to the original news sources. CSU-ERFA is not
responsible for the content of linked articles and cannot
guarantee the accuracy or completeness of those articles.
June 2008
Don't simply retire from something; have something
to retire to. ~Harry Emerson Fosdick |
An
article by Jordan Rau in the
June 30, 2008 issue of The Los Angeles Times
reports that about 100 patients a month are being
harmed by preventable errors in California
hospitals. Under a law passed in 2006
California hospitals must report 28 different types
of dangerous mistakes. These range from
allowing serious bedsores to develop to leaving
surgical instruments in patients.
_______________________
An article in the June 27, 2008 issue of The Los
Angeles Times reports that death rates
from community acquired pneumonia infections vary
widely from hospital to hospital. Average
death rates varied from 8.2% in the hospitals with
the best outcomes to 16.7% in the hospitals with the
poorest outcomes. The average death rate from
community acquired pneumonia was 12.2%. The
information in the article was based on a report
from the California Office of Statewide Health
Planning and Development that analyzed data from
2003 through 2005.
This report can be downloaded from our website.
(Webmaster's note: A relatively effective vaccine is
available that reduces the chances of acquiring
pneumonia infections of bacterial origin.
Consult your physician for more information.)
_______________________
The
Sacramento Bee reported in its June 20, 2008
issue that rising commodity prices have been a
windfall for the CalPERS pension fund. Over
the past 12 months CalPERS has seen its commodity
investments gain 68%. According to the article
some questions have been raised about CalPERS and
other retirement fund commodities investments
contributing to the recent rapid rise in the price
of oil and other commodities. CalPERS
commodity investments total about $1.1 billion, but
amount to less than 0.5% of its overall portfolio.
_______________________
According to a June 19, 2008 article in the
Sacramento Bee, the CalPERS Health Benefits
Committee is recommending increases in health care
premiums for 2009 of up to 8%. The largest
recommended increases are for those enrolled in the
Kaiser Basic Plan. The recommended increase
for retirees who are enrolled in the Kaiser Medicare
Plan is just under 2.5%. No increase has been
recommended for retirees enrolled in the Blue Shield
Access Plus Medicare Plan and the Blue Shield Net
Value Medicare Plan. (Additional information
will be provided when the CalPERS Board makes its
final decisions on 2009 premiums.)
_______________________
The
Los Angeles Times reported in its June 18,
2008 issue that the newest appointee to the
CalPERS Board, Louis F. Moret, is being sued by the
City of South Gate for his involvement in a
questionable refuse collection deal.
_______________________
The
Los Angeles Times reported on June 11, 2008
that CalPERS is conducting a review of its
residential raw land holdings following a 31%
decline in value over the past year. CalPERS
currently owns approximately $2 billion in
undeveloped residential land. One of its
partnerships, LandSource Communities Development
currently is in bankruptcy. The CalPERS raw
land holdings represent less than 1% of its total
investment portfolio.
_______________________
|
In
response to a recent
column by George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times
that characterized California public employees
pensions and healthcare as a "fiscal time bomb,"
CSU-ERFA Webmaster and Treasurer-elect Mark Shapiro
submitted the following letter to the editor of the
Times,
which was published on June 7th:
Re
"Benefits for retirees squeezing the state," June 2
George Skelton's column about public employee
pensions conflates two issues, public employee
pensions and healthcare for public employee
retirees. Contrary to the claims of Keith Richman,
there is no crisis in the funding of public employee
pension obligations.
Many California public employee pension funds are
100% funded or close to 100% funded. The state
pension funds (CalPERS and CalSTRS) are among the
strongest in the world. In fact, 75 cents of every
dollar paid out in pensions to state workers comes
from the interest on CalPERS investments. Of the
remaining 25 cents, more than half comes from
employee contributions. Less than 12 cents on the
dollar comes from the taxpayers.
There is a problem with the funding of retiree
healthcare. In the past, these benefits have been
paid for out of current revenues rather than having
been prefunded like pensions. That error is being
corrected and in the future, taxpayer obligations
for this expense should be reduced substantially.
The problem that the public should be outraged about
is not public pensions, but the disappearance of
retirement security for workers in the private
sector.
Mark H. Shapiro
_______________________
New
Members: We extend a hearty welcome to Robert
L. Britton (Chico); Jeffrey E. Broude
(Dominguez Hills); Nancy S. Harrison,
James M. Forsher, John J. Villarreal, and
Nancy Villarreal (East Bay); Michael D.
Ames (Fullerton); Eric L. Hansen and
Bonnie Kellogg (Long Beach); Barbara Bonace
(Monterey Bay); Charles A. Bearchell,
Robert Gohstand, and Robert J. Kiddoo
(Northridge); Edwin D. Klewer (Pomona);
Maureen Newlin (San Bernardino); Wayne O.
Hill and Nancy M. Sweeny (San Diego);
Marian Bernstein (San Francisco); Terry L.
Christensen, Edith L. Crowe, David M.
Helgren, Robert J. Hyde, J.M. Long,
and Scott B. Rice (San Jose); Frederick W.
Clegg (San Luis Obispo); Bryant P. Hichwa
(Sonoma); and Thomas E. Durbin (Stanislaus).
_______________________
The Los Angeles Times reported on June 3,
2008 that Cal State Fullerton lecturer Wendy
Gonaver, who was fired for attempting to add a
statement to the loyalty oath required of all state
employees who are U.S. citizens, will be hired to
teach two courses in the fall semester.
According to the article "Gonaver, a Quaker and
pacifist who said that California's required loyalty
oath violated her religious beliefs and her right of
free speech, will be allowed to attach a personal
statement of her views when she signs the pledge." |
May 2008
Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the
grass under trees on a summer's day, listening to
the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds
float across the sky, is by no means a waste of
time. ~J. Lubbock |
The Sacramento Bee reported on May 30, 2008
that the California State Assembly passed a bill
(AB 2940) that would require CalPERS to establish a
separate, voluntary investment program for workers
in private industry. The program would
cover the 41% of workers whose employers do not
offer a pension or retirement program. The
bill now goes to the State Senate for consideration.
_______________________
John
Howard and Anthony York, writing in
Capitol Weekly (May 29, 2008) note that
recent agreements worked out by the Department of
Managed Care with 1,092 Kaiser Permanente and 85
HealthNet patients whose policies were illegally
rescinded provide only $15,000 for each patient
towards the medical costs that were not covered by
their HMOs. While these patients will be given
the opportunity to reinstate their health coverage
with these HMOs, most will be left owing substantial
amounts according to the article.
_______________________
In Memoriam: We
note with regret the passing of CSU-ERFA members Krishna M.
Kammula (Fullerton); James E. Householder
(Humboldt); Mariana Cobb (Los Angeles);
Donald Hanner and James J. Kirkpatrick
(Long Beach); Ellen A. McFadden and Audrey
Gruenberger (Northridge); William L. Bruckart
and Carl E.Johnson
(Pomona); Gaylen A. Hatton (Sacramento);
David D. Malcolm (San Diego); Robert R.
Coleman, George E. Deshon, John E.
Morlan, and Joe B. Swan (San Jose); and
Gerard Crowley (Stanislaus).
_______________________
The
Orange County Register reports (May 17, 2008)
that seniors should be aware of a Medicare scam that
has been operating recently in California.
Callers claiming to be from the federal government
try to convince seniors that their Medicare cards
will be invalid by the end of May, and that they
have to provide personal information so that a new
Medicare card can be issue. These are
fraudulent phone calls! If you receive one, do
not provide any information. Hang up.
If you
have any questions about your Medicare status, call
Medicare at 1-800-633-4227.
_______________________
A
recent article in the San Diego Union Tribune
(May 13, 2008) traces student fee increases in
the California State University and University of
California Systems over the past two decades.
The article shows that since 1988
inflation-adjusted student fees have increased
approximately 270% in the CSU System and
approximately 286% in the UC System.
_______________________
The Governor's Revised Budget includes a cut
in state funding of 6.07% for the California State
University System, a reduction of approximately
$215 million. Overall, state funding for
higher education has been reduced by 5.77%.
Total funding for the California State University
System will increase slightly (+0.52%) owing largely
to the recently approved 10% increase in student
fees.
_______________________
The
Sacramento Bee reported in its May 15, 2008
issue that CalPERS will not raise health care
premiums for the coming year. Premiums for
most basic and supplement to Medicare plans will
remain the same. The PersSelect basic plan
premium cost will decrease by about 3%.
_______________________
|
The
Los Angeles Times (5/15/08) is one of
many newspapers reporting that the CSU Board of
Trustees has voted to raise annual undergraduate
student fees another 10% for the coming academic
year. This increase will bring average annual
fees for CSU students to about $3,800 per year.
Twelve of the fifteen CSU Trustees voted for the
increase. Voting against the increase were Lt.
Governor Garamendi, trustee Melinda Guzman, and
student trustee Jennifer Reimer.
_______________________
Correction: In March our In Memoriam item
included William T. McCraw (San Jose).
We are pleased to note that Bill is very much alive.
The error occurred because CalPERS incorrectly
entered his Social Security Number into its database
of deceased members when he reported the death of
his stepfather to them. CSU-ERFA staff now
checks with campus emeriti officers to confirm
reports of deceased members.
Bill
reports that the error created havoc in his personal
life for several days, because his medical benefits
were cut off by both CalPERS and Medicare and his
bank account was frozen. According to
Professor McGraw, Social Security personnel were
very helpful in correcting the error but CalPERS
staff were much less efficient in remedying the
situation.
_______________________
The Orange County Register reported in its
May 8, 2008 issue that some 6,000 southern
California Kaiser members have received bills from
eight Prime Healthcare Services hospitals that both
Kaiser and the state say they do not owe.
These hospitals bill patients aggressively for the
balance between charges for emergency services and
the amount that Kaiser reimburses these
privately-owned hospitals.
According to the story, "The
state Department of Managed Health Care is holding a
public hearing Wednesday (5/14) in Irvine on
proposed balance billing regulations. The public is
invited to comment at 10:30 a.m. at the Irvine
Marriott, 18000 Von Karman Ave. To reach the
department's HMO Help Center, call 888-466-2219. For
information on the proposed regulations, go to the
Web site for the
Department of Managed Health Care."
_______________________
The Wall Street Journal reported today (May
1, 2008) that a CalPERS investment in LandSource
Communities Development, LLC may be about to go
sour. According to the Wall Street Journal
article, CalPERS invested about $650 million in
LandSource, which purchased raw land north of Los
Angeles that was valued at approximately $2.6
billion in February 2007. Unfortunately, the
collapse of the housing market has made the land
worth much less in the current market. As a
result LandSource is now under siege by its
creditors, and may go under. If that happens
the creditors would take over LandSource's assets,
and CalPERS would lose its investment.
This
investment is a small portion of CalPERS overall
real estate portfolio, but it represents a rare
misstep by the pension fund. |
April 2008
Retirement: It's nice
to get out of the rat race, but you have to learn to
get along with less cheese. ~Gene Perret |
In
response to a recent survey of CSU-ERFA members, we
are experimenting with a new -- easier to read
layout for our News and Views Page. Please let
us know what you think of the changes.
_______________________
A Field Poll released today (April 28, 2008)
reports that California voters have growing
insecurities about the way the state's health care
system works. 73% of respondents said that
they were concerned about the state's failure to
enact health reform legislation. 59% of voters
report that they are very concerned about not being
able to pay for all costs associated with a major
illness or injury. This is up 11% from a
similar survey in late 2006.
_______________________
Peter
Schrag, writing in the
Sacramento Bee (April 23, 2008), argues that --
even without the budget cuts to address the present
deficit -- the recent "compacts" for funding the CSU
and UC Systems places both systems of public higher
education on a "downward trajectory that will
continue to erode quality, limit access and
permanently damage [these systems]."
_______________________
A
report in the April 20, 2008 issue of the San
Francisco Chronicle suggests that the
California budget deficit now is at least $11
billion and may rise to as much as $14 billion.
_______________________
According to the
Sacramento Bee (April 18, 2008), "in an
extraordinary move, Cindy Ehnes, director of the
California Department of Managed Health Care,
ordered immediate reinstatements of more than two
dozen patients whose insurance coverage was
rescinded. The health plans will be required
to pay all medical claims of the patients involved."
She also ordered independent reviews of thousands of
other "rescissions" made by Kaiser Permanente,
Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield, PacificCare, and
Health Net made since 2004. A "rescission"
differs from a "cancellation." Policy
cancellations usually take place after claims have
been paid. Under a rescission, the
policyholder is liable for health care costs already
incurred.
_______________________
|
An
article by Richard C. Paddock in the
April 17, 2008 issue of the Los Angeles Times
reports that a study by the Campaign for College
Opportunity suggests that budget cuts for the
University of California and the California State
University Systems would result in an enrollment
reduction of about 27,000 students over the next 2.5
years.
_______________________
According to a
recent article in the Sacramento Bee, Governor
Schwarzenegger is supporting
Assembly Bill 2940, which would allow non-government
employees whose employers do not offer a retirement plan to
invest in individual retirement accounts run by CalPERS.
The bill sponsored by Assemblyman Kevin de Léon (D. Los Angeles)
would establish the California Employee Savings Program.
Individuals without a company-run pension program would be able
to save for retirement through payroll deductions to CalPERS. Their
employers also would be allowed to provide matching
contributions if they desired. The program
would be "portable". People who change jobs
could continue to contribute to the retirement
program. The bill requires that the program be
self-funding and that it cannot affect public
employee pensions. Its major advantage is that
it would give private employees (and employers who
choose to match) access to the investment expertise
and low operating costs of CalPERS. (CSU-ERFA currently is watching this bill, but
has not yet taken a position on it.)
_______________________
CalPERS has announced that
the current open enrollment period for the CalPERS Long-Term
Care Program will run from April 1, 2008 until June 30, 2008.
More information about long-term care options and the CalPERS
Long-Term Care Program can be found on our
Long-Term Care Information Page. |
March 2008
The American Heart
Association has changed its recommendations for CPR (MSNBC
March 31, 2008). The old protocol for adult CPR
required giving the victim two breaths after every 30 chest
compressions. The new protocol recommends using only
100 chest compressions per minute for those adult victims who
appear to have suffered sudden cardiac arrest. (The
old protocol is still recommended for drowning victims and
children.) Here are the details:
The American Heart
Association says bystanders who witness an adult's* sudden
cardiac arrest can opt to perform hands-only CPR and skip
mouth-to-mouth breathing. If someone collapses, stops normal
breathing and is unresponsive to shaking:
First, have
someone call 911, or call yourself.
Put the victim on the floor, face up.
Put one hand on top of the other in the middle of the victim's
chest.
Push hard and fast, 100 presses a minute.
If there's another bystander, take turns.
Continue until paramedics take over.
Use an automated external defibrillator if available.
* Children and drowning victims still need
mouth-to-mouth.
__________________________________________________
David Lazarus has written an interesting commentary in the March
30, 2008 issue of The Los Angeles Times on how much
(or how little) we know about the origins of the prescription
medicines we use. Lazarus, who recently was diagnosed with
Type 1 diabetes, tracks the origin of the insulin he uses to
control his illness.
__________________________________________________
The
Los Angeles Times reported in its March 27, 2008 issue
that it in the case of a suspected heart attack it is better
to call 911 than to go directly to a hospital emergency room.
According to the article, paramedics are equipped to diagnose
heart attacks quickly and to call ahead to the hospital to
ensure that appropriate treatment will be instituted immediately
upon arrival at the hospital.
__________________________________________________
Reuters reported on March 25, 2008 that CalPERS has
named five companies to its 2008 "Focus List." These are
companies that the pension fund considers to have major problems
in the areas of corporate governance or stock performance
compared to their peers. Named to the 2008 Focus List were
the Cheesecake Factory (CAKE), furniture maker La-Z-Boy (LZB),
insurance brokerage Hilb, Rogal & Hobbs (HRH), healthcare
equipment supplier Invacare (IVC), and homebuilding group
Standard Pacific (SPF).
__________________________________________________
The San Francisco Chronicle reported in its March 21,
2008 issue that 11 California hospitals have been fined
for major medical errors. This is the second time that
the state Department of Public Health has penalized hospitals
under a law that went into effect on January 1, 2007. This
new law allows the Department to assess penalties in cases where
patients are in
"immediate jeopardy," or for violations likely to cause death or
serious injury.
__________________________________________________
New Members:
We extend a hearty welcome to Donald H. Wort (East Bay);
Roger Nanes and Margaret H. White (Fullerton);
Elizabeth Kenneday-Corathers and Douglas A. Parker
(Long Beach); Richard L. Harris (Monterey Bay); Ann S.
Perkins and Michael J. Reagan (Northridge);
Consuelo J. Underwood and Dennis L. Wilcox (San
Jose); Harold M. Cota and Alan M. Weatherford (San
Luis Obispo); and Ronald W. Lodewyck (Stanislaus).
__________________________________________________
The
Sacramento Bee reported on March 18, 2008 that both
CalPERS and CalSTRS oppose AB1967, a bill by Assembly member
Alberto Torrico that would prevent the two retirement systems
from investing in private-equity firms that are wholly or partly
owned by foreign governments that don't comply with major
human-rights treaties.
__________________________________________________
A lengthy article by Los Angeles Times staff writer
Melissa Healy (March 17, 2008) reports that some patients
and physicians are questioning whether certain generic drugs are
as effective as their brand-name counterparts. Concerns
have been raised about generic versions of such drugs as
Coumadin, Wellbutrin XL, and Toprol XL among others. The
article notes that patients
and doctors should be alert to variations in a new
prescription's effectiveness, and should report their concerns
to the FDA's adverse-events monitoring system, called MedWatch (www.fda.gov/medwatch).
__________________________________________________
In Memoriam: We
note with regret the passing of CSU-ERFA members Edward
Laskowski and Harold I. Purcell (Bakersfield);
William H. Corcoran, Frances H. Harkins, and
George W. Raney (Fresno); Raymond A. Reyes and
Jack W. Welpott (Fullerton); Lawrence G. Callahan
(Humboldt); John E. Gessford, John Minar,
Charles E. Stetler, Jr., and Robert E. Strain (Long
Beach); Clifford J. Craft, III and Ake Sandler
(Los Angeles); Leonard Berkowitz, Harry R. Highkin,
Donald G. Lahr, Mary G. McEdwards, and Ralph
Segalman (Northridge); Arnold A. Cowan and Raymond
L. Orton (Pomona); Roberta A. Gehrmann and
Columbus E. Tootle (Sacramento); Sue W. Earnest,
Carolyn B. Fields, Mark J. Steckbauer, and Clayton
G. Swanson (San Diego); Francis R. Best and Raoul
Bertrand (San Francisco); David W. Eakins and Francis Pann (San Jose); and James
R. Emmel, Edgar A. Hyer, and Noel C. Wheeler
(San Luis Obispo).
__________________________________________________
The
Sacramento Bee reported in its March 9, 2008 issue
that "six
years after the California Legislature passed a law requiring
the state to adopt regulations to ensure HMO patients have
timely access to needed medical services, consumers are still
waiting." Assembly bill 2179, which was enacted into law
in 2002 had set a deadline of 2004 for the establishment of
regulations that would enforce the law. The Department of
Managed Health Care recently proposed "rules would have entitled
patients to see a primary care physician for urgent care within
24 hours, get an appointment for routine care within eight
business days, and be referred to a specialist for urgent care
within 72 hours." However, these draft rules have been
placed on hold after objections from HMOs and physicians groups.
__________________________________________________
The
Sacramento Bee reported in its March 2, 2008 issue that in
the event of a major emergency such as a massive disaster,
biological terrorism attack, or influenza pandemic older, sicker
patients might be allowed to die in order to save the lives of
patients more likely to survive under plans being developed by
the California Department of Public Health.
February 2008
 |
|
Secretary Judy Stanley (East Bay), President Don
Dewey (Los Angeles) and Interim Executive Director
Don Cameron (Northridge) examine the Webmaster's
report at the February 2008 CSU-ERFA Executive
Committee Meeting. |
The
CSU-ERFA Executive
Committee passed the following Resolution Concerning the
2008-2009 California Budget at its February 16, 2008 meeting
at CSU, Northridge:
WHEREAS, The
State of California is facing a funding shortfall of major
proportions; and
WHEREAS, The
budget proposed by the Governor lacks support from most
major players, including both majority and minority
leadership in the Assembly and the Senate as well as the
Legislative Analyst; and
WHEREAS, Even
the Governor has made statements that cast doubt on his own
support for his proposal; and
WHEREAS, The
California State University Emeritus and Retired Faculty
Association (CSU-ERFA) represents several thousand
individuals who have devoted many years to the building of
one of the finest public university systems in the world;
and
WHEREAS, The
California State University, together with the other
segments in education, have suffered substantial reductions
in real funding, putting their critical role as an engine
helping to drive the State's economy at great risk; and
WHEREAS, The
Governor's request for an increase in undergraduate fees of
at least 10% combined with his failure to provide new
funding for enrollment growth, would further limit student
access to higher education at the very time when economic
conditions suggest a need for greater access; and
WHEREAS, The
nature of the State budget, which is largely formula driven,
tends to result in certain entities bearing a
disproportionate share of reductions; and
WHEREAS, State
taxes have been reduced rather than increased over the past
decade, and the Governor has renewed his pledge not to raise
taxes; and
WHEREAS,
Structural reforms that bring the State's revenue into
balance with its necessary expenditures are long overdue;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That
CSU-ERFA recommends the following guidelines for all
deliberations on the 2008-2009 State Budget:
-
All
parties involved in the deliberations should heed the
advice of the Legislative Analyst, particularly with
regard to the setting of priorities;
-
Tax
increases and adjustments should be identified and
implemented, just as decreases have been implemented in
better years;
-
Priority-setting should include consideration of
consequences, both long- and short-term, and the likely
ability of the State to ameliorate negative consequences
and avoid permanent damage; and
-
Vigorous
effort should be directed to removing or revising
statutory and constitutional formulas that have
disproportionate impact on certain State agencies; and
be it further
RESOLVED, that
these concerns of the California State University Emeritus
and Retired Faculty Association be communicated to the
Governor, members of the Legislature, the CSU Board of
Trustees, the Chancellor, the Statewide Academic Senate,
appropriate employee organizations, news media and all
campus colleagues.
In other actions
the CSU-ERFA Executive Committee discussed the recommendation of
the Personnel Committee regarding applications for the position
of Executive Director, and voted to recommend a candidate for
approval by the State Council at its upcoming April meeting.
The Executive Committee also approved the recommendation of the
Grant Awards Committee to grant $2,000 to Dr. Christine Kolar,
Associate Professor Emerita at Cal Poly Pomona, for the
design and development for publication of a Resource Guide for
education faculty and secondary practitioners focusing on
integrating structured journal writing into curriculum and
professional development activities. Grant Award
Committee Chair Max Norton attended the meeting to make the
recommendation.
Interim Executive
Director Don Cameron discussed the Association's budget in some
detail. He was pleased to report that for the first two
quarters of our 2007-08 fiscal year our budget was on track with
income exceeding expenditures by just under 10%. Don also
distributed copies of our new recruiting brochure. In
addition, he noted that there has been an excellent response
from members to the recent survey that was mailed to our
members. Approximately 40% of our members have returned
their survey forms so far. Publications Committee Chair
Ted Anagnoson is in the process of tabulating the results.
__________________________________________________
The Los Angeles
Times
reported in its February 11, 2008 issue that a number of
public and private employers have been reducing their retiree
health costs by requiring their retirees to enroll in
"fee-for-service" Medicare Advantage programs. These
programs, which are run by private insurance companies, use the
same networks of doctors and hospitals as traditional Medicare
but also offer some of the supplementary services provided by
traditional Medicare supplementary insurance plans.
However, the federal government provides a special subsidy to
the fee-for-service Medicare Advantage programs that lowers the
cost to employers. For example, regular Medicare
supplement insurance plans typically cost employers $1,000 to
$1,500 per year, while fee-for-service Medicare Advantage
programs typically cost employers only a few hundred dollars per
year. The difference is made up by federal subsidies to
the profit-making insurance companies that offer these
fee-for-service Medicare Advantage plans. Unfortunately,
these federal subsidies are partly funded by higher premiums for
all Medicare recipients.
__________________________________________________
Latest results from the California Secretary of State, with
97% of precincts reporting, show that
Proposition 92 -- the Community
College Funding Initiative -- has failed with a 57.4% "No"
vote compared to a 42.6% "Yes" vote.
January 2008
The CSU-ERFA Executive Committee has voted unanimously to
oppose Proposition 92 on the February 5, 2008 ballot.
(Proposition 92 would amend the California Constitution to
guarantee community colleges minimum funding levels from the
state regardless of state revenues.) CSU-ERFA President
Don Dewey issued the following statement about our opposition to
Prop. 92.
The
appropriate solution to chronic under-funding of higher
education by the State of California is not a
constitutional amendment that would permanently divert an
increased proportion of those limited funds to a single
segment of higher education.
Therefore,
the Executive Committee of the California State University
Emeritus and Retired Faculty Association unanimously opposes
Proposition 92 on the February 5th California ballot and
urges CSU-ERFA members to vote against this proposition.
In addition to
CSU-ERFA, Proposition 92 is opposed by many other individuals
and organizations including the California Teachers Association,
California Chamber of Commerce, California Faculty Association,
League of Women Voters of California, California Business
Roundtable, California Republican Assembly, California State
University (CSU), California Taxpayers’ Association, Academic
Senate of the California State University, Gray Panthers
California, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, San Diego Tax
Fighters, San Francisco Democratic Party, Small Business Action
Committee, University of California (UC), Contra Costa Taxpayers
Association, SEIU State Council, Professional Engineers in
California Government, California Department of Forestry
Firefighters, Local 2881, California Professional Firefighters (CPF),
Del Norte County Democratic Central Committee, California State
University Employees Union (SEIU Local 2579), and the Santa Fe
Springs Chamber of Commerce and Industrial League.
An extensive analysis of the flaws in Proposition 92 has been
presented in an article by our Webmaster that is available
online.
__________________________________________________
Reuters reported on January 29, 2008 that the similarity in
the names of a number of prescription medicines has led to a
rapid rise in the number of mix-ups in the administration of
these drugs. Since 2004 the number of such errors has more
than doubled. There are some 3,170 pairs of drug names
that are easy to confuse. Examples include the antibiotic
Levaquin and the blood pressure medication Levophed, and the
glaucoma medication acetaZOLamide and the diabetes drug
acetoHEXamide. Don't hesitate to double check with your
pharmacist or with the person administering the medication to
make sure that the correct drug is being used.
_________________________________________________
Past-President
David Elliott reports that Senate Bill 235 has been passed and
signed by the Governor. This bill would allow CSU
annuitants and their dependents to enroll in a vision care
program administered by the CSU. Those enrolling in
the program would be required to pay the entire cost of the
monthly premiums. However, because of the economies of
scale in such a program, it is expected that the premiums will
be considerably less than those for comparable individual vision
care insurance policies. The program is expected to start
after July 1, 2008.
_________________________________________________
According to an
article published in the
January 15, 2008 issue of The Los Angeles Times
the heavily advertised drug Vytorin is no better than an
inexpensive generic drug at blocking the damaging effects of
high cholesterol levels, according to new data released by
the drug's manufacturers Monday.
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The Los Angeles
Times
reported in its January 11, 2008 issue that the current
California budget crises is likely to lead to student fee
increases beyond the already scheduled 10% increase for
California State University students and 7.4% increase for
University of California students. In addition, enrollment
caps, reduced class offerings, and layoffs of part-time faculty
members may be necessary. CSU Chancellor Reed is ordering
all CSU campuses to close new student applications by February 1
in order to control enrollment for the coming academic year.
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The Public
Employee Post-Employment Benefits Commission released its
final recommendations today
(January 8, 2008). The Commission has made 34
recommendations in its final report regarding pension and other
post-employment benefits (OPEB). In particular, the
Commission is recommending the pre-funding of other
post-employment benefits (primarily healthcare benefits),
methods to limit volatility in employer contributions, and the
use of surpluses in pension funds to cover deficits OPEB funds.
The complete report has been posted on our website to
facilitate
downloading.
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The
Capitol Weekly reported on January 3, 2008 that the
Public Employee Post-Employment Benefits Commission is expected to make its
recommendations public during the week of January 6th. It
is expected that the bulk of the commission's recommendations
will address the prefunding of post-employment healthcare
benefits.
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An article by Wes
Sander in the
Capitol Weekly (January 3, 2008) describes the
slow progress of California hospitals in completing seismic
upgrades required by the Alquist Act. The recently
enacted SB306 extended the deadline for upgrades to 2020.
However, Sander notes that some major healthcare providers
including Kaiser Permanente, Sutter Health, and Catholic
Healthcare West are moving forward with retrofitting projects at
this time. He also reports that many hospitals are
applying for waivers so that they can construct new buildings to
replace existing ones that don't meet seismic safety standards.
According to the article it often is less expensive to construct
an new hospital building than to retrofit an old one.